Garment pressing apparatus and method



March 18, 1969 H. M. SWARTZ GARMENT PRESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD Sheet of 4 Filed March 5, 1966 ATTORNEYS March 8,-1969 H. M. SWARTZ 3,433,396

GARMENT PRESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 5, 1966 Sheet 2 of 4 P as 1% 1- 9 I INVE TOR W M. 1% BY ATTORNEYS March 18, 1969 H. M. SWARTZ GARMENT PRESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD Sheet Filed March 3, 1966 FIG.3

R 1% m fi N0. R 3 NM i I? A mm) March 18, 1969 H. SWARTZ 3,433,396

GARMENT PRESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March .3, 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 NVEQTOR JYW ATTORNEY/5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus and method for finishing garments-The apparatus shapes and removes wrinkles from an entire garment having tubular portions in one operation. As an additional option, starch may be carried to the garment. Moreover, additional blowers are utilized to scavenge residual steam in the apparatus.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for finishing fabric garments and particularly to shaping and removing wrinkles from garments having tubular portions.

Many present day finishing machines handling garments having tubular portions are of the type having a single inflatable bag which finishes one sleeve or leg of the garment at a time. The operators of these machines are required to finish each sleeve or each leg separately requiring placement, finishing, and removal of each sleeve or leg, one after the other, on the same tubular inflatable bag. This is not only time consuming but it also does not do the complete job since the remaining sections of the garment, for example, the waist or seat portion of a pantslike garment, are not ordinarily capable of being shaped or finished on these machines.

According to the present invention, provision is made to shape and finish an entire garment in a single operating cycle including shaping and finishing of sections thereof to which the legs or sleeves are joined (e.g., the seat of a pants-like garment) and also including, in one embodiment, the application of starch to the garment. Provision is also made to handle simultaneously two garments on the same machine thereby adapting the machine to many economy measures by using common elements for each garment handling section of the machine.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for shaping and finishing an entire garment in a single operation, thereby reducing the amount of time required to finish the garment as opposed to separately finishing only part of the garment at a time.

Another object is to provide for handling a plurality of garments on a single machine, thereby effecting economy measures by the use of common machine parts.

A further object is to provide, in one embodiment, for the application of starch to the garment.

Another object is to provide for scavenging residual steam from the pressing area and also, in one embodiment, for scavenging excess starch.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for controlling the finishing operation using automatically controlled apparatus to provide consistent quality control.

A further object is to provide certain improvements in the form, construction, arrangement and material of the several elements whereby the above named and other objects may be attained.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment finishing machine constructed according to the invention.

States Patent 0 FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof, parts being broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof, parts being broken away to show additional details.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation thereof with the side wall of the cabinet and the inflatable bag removed.

FIG. 5 is a detail view in side elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section, of a portion of the cabinet and the finishing arm assembly.

FIG. 6 is a detail section taken at the cutting plane VIVI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a detail section taken at the cutting plane VIIVII of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a cabinet 10 having two finishing arm assemblies 12 and 14 extending from opposed cabinet walls. As will be described in greater detail, each arm assembly 12 and 14 is adapted to receive a garment, whereby operators stationed adjacent each arm assembly 12 and 14 may work independently of each other to simultaneously process garments.

Turning to the details of construction, FIG. 2 shows within the cabinet 10 a main fan or blower 16, discharging air through a duct 18 to an enclosure forming an air manifold 20 where the air is heated before exiting via the two ducts 22 and 23 leading to each arm assembly. The blower 16 is driven by the motor 24 by means of the 'belt 26. The means for heating the air in the manifold 20 is shown in the drawings as comprising a heat exchanger in the form of a steam coil 28 (FIG. 3) arranged in the manifold 20 within the path of air passing therethrough. The coil 28 receives steam from a steam supply line 30 via the branch pipe 32 while the return and condensate pass through the outlet line 34 and trap 36 for return to the boiler (not shown) via the condensate return line 37.

Also enclosed within the cabinet 10 are two booster fans 38 and 39, each taking in atmospheric air from within the cabinet 10 and discharging through discharge conduits 40' and 41 respectively to the adjacent arm assembly. The function of the booster fans will be hereinafter described.

The arm assembly 12 comprises two apertured tubular casings 42 and 43 mounted on the cabinet 10 and extending laterally therefrom at -a slight upward angle for reasons to be described. The outer and inner ends of each casing 42 and 43 are closed, the closures on the outer ends being made by the caps indicated at 44. Within each tubular casing 42 and 43 is a tube-like steam distributor or nozzle 45, 46 and a preheater coil 47, 48. The steam nozzles 45, 46 comprise apertured pipes extending from a steam manifold 50, the latter being supplied with steam from the supply pipe 30 via the branch line 52 having a solenoid operated valve 53 therein. The preheater coils 47, 48, which serve to maintain the required high temperature within the tubular casings 42, 43 and prevent steam from condensing therein and within the steam nozzles 45, 46, each comprises a double length conduit on diametrically opposed sides of each steam nozzle 45, 46 and joined at the outer ends by a return bend 47 (FIG. 7). The coils 47, 48 are supplied with steam through the inlet conduit 54 leading from the main steam supply line 30 while the return and condensate pass through the outlet line 55 and trap 56 to a :boiler via the aforementioned condensate return line 37. The preheater coils 47, 48 in each tubular casing 42, 43 may be connected in series by the crossover conduit 156 best seen in FIG. 7.

Drain lines 5 8 and 59 lead from the lower side of each tubular casing to conduct condensate via the trap 60 to the aforementioned condensate return line 37. It will be observed that drainage of condensate from the drain lines 58, 59 and from the preheater coils 47, 48 is facilitated by the aforementioned inclined disposition of the arm assemblies 12, 14, that is, the condensate will gravitate to the lower end of the arm assemblies adjacent the cabinet 10 where it will readily pass into the drain lines 55, 58 and 59. The end closures on the tubular casings 42, 43 prevent the condensate from spilling out and insures that the latter will pass into the drain lines.

With the construction thus far described it will be apparent that steam is conducted from the steam manifold 50 to each steam nozzle 45, 46 where it passes through the apertures therein to the tubular casings 42, 43, condensate from the latter being drained via the lines 8, 59. Steam is also conducted through the preheater coils 47, 48 to maintain the nozzles 45, 46 in heated condition and prevent condensation of steam discharge through the nozzles or condensation of the discharged steam on the metal parts when the apparatus is first placed in operation.

Mounted externally of the arm assembly 12 is an inflatable bag 62 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7) have an inflated shaped corresponding to the shape of the garment to be finished, the illustrated embodiment, for example, showing a bag 62 having leg portions and a waist or seat portion corresponding to the final desired shape of a pants-like garment to be finished thereon. The bag 62 is mounted on a rigid extension 63 extending from the duct 22 which, as previously mentioned, conducts air from the main blower 16 to the arm assembly 12. The opening of the inner end of the bag 62 corresponds generally to the contour of the extension 63 so that the inner end of the bag may be readily passed over the extension 63 and secured thereto by the bands or straps 64 which may be rigid or extensible. The outer end of each leg portion of the bag is closed as indicated at 65.

The bag 62 is formed of flexible material which is permeable to the steam discharged from the nozzles 45, 46 and to the air discharged by the main blower 16 and booster fans 38, 39. By way of example, the bag 62 may be constructed of flexible cloth fabric (e.g., nylon) which is woven with suflicient tightness to provide limited permeability and effect ballooning or distension thereof and maintenance of a limited pressure therein suflicient to distend and maintain a garment clothed thereon at its expanded shape during the finishing operation.

Under operating conditions, the bag 62 is maintained inflated by the air flowing therein from the main blower 16. The amount of pressure may be regulated by positioning a damper 67 (FIG. 2) in the duct 18 or .by positioning dampers 22a, 23a in the ducts 22, 23 respectively. Thus far only one arm assembly (12) has been described in detail. It will be understood that the other arm assembly (14) is of a similar construction and accordingly, need not be described in detail. Both arm assemblies 12 and 14 receive heated air from the common blower 16, air manifold 20 and heater 28. However, as previously noted, there is a separate booster fan 38, 39 :for each arm assembly. The discharge ducts 40, 41 for each booster fan extend into the arm assemblies between the two tubular casings (see FIG. 7) to supply air supplementing that furnished by the main blower 16. As will be further described, the booster fans do not operate continuously as does the main blower 16, but only during the end of each operating cycle to supply a predetermined amount of scavenging air to the inflatable bag 62.

The invention is particularly adaptable to operate in conjunction with apparatus for applying starch to the garment. Accordingly, there may be provided in the cabinet a pressure vessel or tank 68 containing starch (e.g., a starch solution) capable of beign carried in suspension in steam or air, whereby the latter carries the starch to the garment where it is applied thereto as a fine mist or spray. In the illustrated embodiment, the tank 68 containing liquid starch 69 is put under steam pressure by the steam line 70 leading from the main steam supply line 30. Reverse flow is prevented by the check valve 72 while control is effected by the valve 73.

4 A conduit 75 having its end immersed in the liquid starch 69 leads to the branch steam line 52, which conducts steam from the main steam supply line 30 to the nozzle manifold 50, at a point between the latter and the steam solenoid valve 53. A solenoid valve 76 in the conduit 75 controls the flow of steam and starch into the branch steam line 52. It will be apparent that opening of the solenoid valves 53 and 76 will allow the steam with the starch suspended therein to flow into the branch line 52, to mix with the steam in the latter and thereafter follow a path to the mesh of the bag 62 where the starch is released as a fine mist on the garment. A second conduit 78 and solenoid 79 leads to the other arm assembly (14) but the arrangement is similar to that described above as applied to the arm assembly 12 and accordingly, will not be described in detail.

As previously mentioned, the solenoid valve 53 controls the steam flow to the steam nozzles. Automatic control of the steam solenoid valves 53, 81 and booster fans 38, 39 (and starch solenoid valves 76 and 79, if furnished) is obtained by multicam timers 82, 83 and foot treadles 84, 85 (FIG. 1) included within an electric circuit containing a circuit breaker 87 as will be described.

In operating the above described apparatus, the main fan 16 is turned on to supply heated air to inflate the bag 62 (and also to inflate the bag 83 associated with the arm assembly 14), the amount and pressure of air supplied being controlled by the damper 67 or dampers 22a and 23a. With the bags 62, 88 inflated, a garment to be finished is pulledover either one of the bags, portions of the inflated bag being manually distended or compressed temporarily, as deemed desirable, by an operator to facilitate this operation. Upon being mounted on the inflated bag, the latter takes the shape of the garment. This method of mounting the garment on the inflatable bag offers the advantage of preventing formation of creases in the garment as might occur when the garment is mounted on a limp bag and subsequently inflated with the garment inplace.

With the garment in place on the inflated bag, the operator starts the operating cycle by depressing the foot treadle (e.g., 84) which activates the multicam timer 82, the latter in turn opening the solenoid valve 53 to permit a predetermined amount of steam flow to the nozzles 45, 46. The steam passes through the apertures in the nozzles into the casings 42, 43 and thence through the apertures in the latter. The escaping steam then passes substantially uniform through the mesh of the bag 62 and through the fabric of the garment to soften the fabric. After the steam solenoid valve 53 is opened, or simultaneously therewith, the starch solenoid valve 76 (if furnished) is opened by the multicam timer 82 to admit starch to the system as previously described. The steam solenoid 53 is subsequently closed after a predetermined length of time by the multicam timer 82, the closing of the solenoid 53 providing a signal to close the starch solenoid valve 76. The multicam timer 82 then starts the booster tan 38 to introduce into the bag 62 a suflicient amount of air as an agent to scavenge residual steam and starch remaining within the bag. After a predetermined length of time, the multicam timer 82 shuts off the booster fan 38 and places the timer 82 in a condition ready to repeat the cycle. The garment is then removed from the bag 62 in a shaped and finished condition.

It will be observed that the steam solenoid valve 53, booster fan 38 (and starch solenoid valve 76, if furnished) are operated intermittently in accordance with a programmed cycle while the main fan 16 operates continuously to maintain the bag inflated at all times. It will also be noted that there is a separate multicam timer 82 and 83, steam solenoid valve 53 and 81 (and starch solenoid valve 76 and 79, if furnished), booster fan 38 and 39, foot treadle 84 and 85 and associated electrical circuit and control apparatus for each arm assembly 12 and 14 so that operators may work independently on each arm assembly.

Steam is admitted continuously to the preheater coils 47, 48 to prevent steam condensation within the arm assembly, the steam being initially turned on before the automatic operating cycles are commenced to heat up the metal parts. A manual control valve 89 (FIG. 2) may be provided on the inlet line 54 to the preheater coils. Similarly, steam is admitted continuously to the tank 68 (when furnished), the steam being initially turned on before the automatic operating cycles by the valve 73.

Each arm assembly shown in the drawings is capable of shaping and finishing, all at one time in a single operation, a complete pants-like garment including shaping and finishing both leg portions and the waist or seat portion. Different shaped bags may be placed on the machine to receive garments of varying sizes and shapes as desired. Since the arm assemblies are operated independently, each one may have a different shaped bag if desired. The booster fans scavenge the residual steam and starch from the bag, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of starch which would otherwise return via the drain lines to the boiler and adversely affect operation of the latter. By scavenging the residual steam, the booster fans 38, 39 dry the garment after pressing. It is desirable to obtain a dry garment because if the garment has excessive moisture in it, there will be a tendency for wrinkles to set, such wrinkles being caused, for example, by packing or hanging a plurality of garments close together.

It will be understood that modifications may be made to the above described machine as deemed desirable. For example, an electric heater may be used in place of the steam heater 28. The separate dampers 22a, 23a may be used in the ducts 22 and 23 and the single damper 67 dispensed with, or the latter may be used and the two separate dampers 22a, 23a eliminated. Each booster fan (e.g., 38) may direct its discharge into each casing 42, 43 by employing a T or Y fitting on its discharge conduit 40. Also a single booster fan having ducts leading to each arm assembly may be employed, the control of air flow through each duct being obtained by a damper in each duct actuated by an electrically controlled operating device. The preheater coils 47, 48 may have more than one loop, and may be arranged in varying locations along the length of the tubular casings 42, 43. semiautomatic control may be provided by having a manually operated switch for each steam solenoid 53, 81, each starch solenoid valve 76, 79 (if furnished), and each booster fan 38, 39 while manual control may be obtained by a quick opening and closing manually operated valves in lieu of the solenoids 53, 81.

The starching apparatus may be omitted, or if furnished, may be made inoperable without affecting the operation and performance of the rest of the machine. The starch solenoid valves 76, 79 may be electrically interlocked to open and close simultaneously with the steam solenoid valves 53, 81, thereby eliminating a direct tie-in between the multicam timers 82, 83 and the starch solenoid valves 76, 79. The rate of flow of the steam and starch may be controlled by the valves 91 and 92 in the conduits 75 and 78, respectively.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for finishing and shaping garments comprising a continuously operated blower, a flexible bag receiving air from said blower to effect distention of said bag to an expanded shape corresponding to the shape of a garment to be clothed thereon, means admitting and distributing steam within said bag, said bag having a limited permeability to the extent of passing a predetermined amount of fluid medium to the garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garment while retaining sufficient fluid medium to maintain distention of the bag to the expanded shape of the garment, and a booster blower operating intermittently for supplying an additional supply of air to said bag after termination of steam admission to the bag to scavenge residual steam from the bag.

2. Apparatus for finishing and shaping garments according to claim 1 wherein said bag has two tubular leg portions extending from a single tubular Waist portion, said bag being adapted to receive and expand an entire pants-like garment for shaping and finishing the latter in a single operating cycle.

3. Apparatus for finishing and shaping garments according to claim 1 further comprising a cabinet structure housing said blower and mounting said bag, a second bag supported from said cabinet structure, a manifold operatively connected to said blower, a separate air duct connected between the manifold and each bag for supplying air thereto, and means within said manifold for warming the air before the latter passes to the bags via said ducts.

4. Apparatus for finishing and shaping garments according to claim 1 further comprising a control timer and electric circuit means associated with said flexible bag for automatically timing and controlling the operation of the associated steam distributing means and scavenging means.

5. Apparatus for finishing and shaping garments according to claim 4 wherein said control timer is a multicam timer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,961 12/1938 Lendle 223- 2,239,572 4/1941 Richa 223-73 2,190,868 2/1940 Foster 38-14 2,713,957 7/ 1955 Stribling 223-73 3,055,564 9/1962 Forse 223-73 3,263,877 8/1966 Radford 223-73 3,297,216 1/1967 Radford 223-73 3,298,578 1/1967 Shields 223-67 3,332,589 7/1967 Blevens 223-67 RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner. GEORGE V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

